Low Platlet count

[JCB1606]

I have stage 3.5 of 4 on the scale with a platlet count of 85,000 or 92. What can be done to acheive a higher count so I can start the peg  for my hep c?

[HectorSF]

I am assuming you had a liver biopsy and are somewhere near Stage 4 fibrosis? Cirrhosis? A low platelet count in a symptom of cirrhosis caused by an enlarged Spleen (Spleenomeglia) which captures the platelets are causing them to die. At the present time clinical trials are being conducted on a drug that will raise platelet counts. It is not on the market at this time.

Each person responds differently to treatment based on many factors including the degree of liver damage. The only way to know for sure what will happen, is to start treatment with an experienced doctor who understands the complexity of treatment with patients with advanced liver disease. Hopefully your platelets will only drop moderately and then stabilize themselves (when your platelet count gets down to the 20ks even the most experienced doc will stop treatment).

Remember as your liver disease advances your chances of SVR drops especially in Stage 4. Persons with cirrhosis and genotype 1 typically have about a 10% chance of SVR with current treatment meds. I believe it is worth trying. I tried treatment but it didn't work for me. (Null Responder).
Within 12 weeks you will also know if you respond to current treatments or you may have to wait until 2011, when the new drugs should be available on the market which now seem to improve the percent of patients who achieve SVR. Hopefully it will work for us with advanced liver disease as well.

Best of luck.
Hector

[sallyo]

I do not know of anything to raise platlet count.  I know there is a medicine that will.  All I can say is that 85 to 92,000 would be a good number if you were already on treatment.  If this is your starting point it would be expected to drop.
  I first started treatment with platet count of 60 and it dropped and stayed in the 40's for the duration.  I was told that spontaneous bleed should not occur until platlet count dropped below 20.  However if you have pre-exsisting conditions (ie stomach ulcer, high blood pressure or dangerous occupation) your doctor may advise against it.
Low platlets are a part of liver disease wether on or off treatment. I wish you well